Startup control method and electronic device

Abstract

The invention provides a startup control method and an electronic device. The method comprises the following steps: starting a startup program of the electronic device; in the process of executing the startup program, a wireless verification signal is received through a wireless communication circuit of the electronic device, and the wireless verification signal carries verification information; judging whether the verification information passes verification or not; in response to verification of the verification information, continuing to execute the startup program; and in response to the fact that the verification information does not pass the verification, stopping the startup program. Therefore, the user experience can be effectively improved under the condition of giving consideration to the startup safety protection of the electronic device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a boot control technology, and more particularly to a boot control method and an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] Generally speaking, in order to improve the information security of electronic devices such as smart phones or notebook computers, some types of electronic devices support identity verification during the boot-up of the electronic device in the form of manually entering an account / password, graphical verification, or biometric verification (such as face verification or fingerprint verification). Only after passing the identity verification can the boot-up program of the electronic device continue to execute. However, in some cases (for example, when there is a short distance between the user and the electronic device at present), the boot-up program of the electronic device will not be able to continue to execute, thus causing inconvenience in use. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An embodiment of the present invention provides a boot control method for an electronic device. The electronic device has a wireless communication circuit. The boot control method includes: starting the boot-up program of the electronic device; during the execution of the boot-up program, receiving a wireless verification signal through the wireless communication circuit, where the wireless verification signal carries verification information; determining whether the verification information passes the verification; in response to the verification information passing the verification, continuing to execute the boot-up program; and in response to the verification information not passing the verification, stopping the boot-up program.

[0004] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device, which includes a wireless communication circuit and a processor. The processor is connected to the wireless communication circuit. The processor is used to: start the boot-up program of the electronic device; during the execution of the boot-up program, receive a wireless verification signal through the wireless communication circuit, where the wireless verification signal carries verification information; determine whether the verification information passes the verification; in response to the verification information passing the verification, continuing to execute the boot-up program; and in response to the verification information not passing the verification, stopping the boot-up program.

[0005] Based on the above, the boot control method and the electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present invention can perform verification through the received wireless verification signal during the execution of the boot-up program of the electronic device. If the verification is passed, the boot-up program can continue to execute. However, if the verification fails, the boot-up program can be automatically stopped. Thus, while taking into account the boot security protection of the electronic device, the user experience can be effectively improved. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a boot verification system shown according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0007] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram showing the relative relationship in time between the startup program and at least one verification point as shown in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0008] Figure 3 It is a flowchart of the startup control method as shown in the embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0009] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0010] Please refer to Figure 1 , the startup verification system 10 includes an electronic device 11 and a communication device 12. The electronic device 11 can be an electronic device supporting wireless communication functions such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a smart watch, a wireless speaker, a game console, a smart TV, an industrial computer, a vehicle-mounted computer or a server, and the type of the electronic device 11 is not limited thereto. In addition, the communication device 12 can be a portable electronic device supporting wireless communication functions such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer or a smart watch, and the type of the communication device 12 is not limited thereto. Wireless communication can be performed between the electronic device 11 and the communication device 12.

[0011] The electronic device 11 includes a wireless communication circuit 111, a storage circuit 112 and a processor 113. The wireless communication circuit 111 is used to provide the wireless communication function of the electronic device 11. For example, the wireless communication circuit 111 can be used to perform wireless communication with the communication device 12. For example, the electronic device 11 can receive a wireless signal from the communication device 12 or send a wireless signal to the communication device 12 through the wireless communication circuit 111. For example, the wireless communication circuit 111 can support wireless communication standards such as Bluetooth, Near-Field Communication (NFC) or Wifi, and the wireless communication standards supported by the wireless communication circuit 111 are not limited thereto.

[0012] The storage circuit 112 is used to store data. For example, the storage circuit 112 can include a Read Only Memory (ROM), a solid state disk (SSD), a traditional hard disk drive (HDD), a flash memory module, an embedded MultiMedia Card (eMMC), a Universal Flash Storage (UFS) device or a similar non-volatile storage medium.

[0013] The processor 113 is connected to the wireless communication circuit 111 and the storage circuit 112. The processor 113 can be used to be responsible for the overall or partial operation of the electronic device 11. For example, the processor 113 may include a central processing unit (CPU) or other programmable general-purpose or special-purpose microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), programmable controllers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other similar devices, or a combination of these devices.

[0014] In one embodiment, the processor 113 can start the boot-up procedure of the electronic device 11. For example, in response to a boot-up signal, the processor 113 can start the boot-up procedure of the electronic device 11. For example, this boot-up signal can be generated by the user triggering (such as pressing or touching) the power-on button of the electronic device 11. After starting the boot-up procedure of the electronic device 11, the processor 113 can read the boot code of the electronic device 11 from the storage circuit 112. Then, the processor 113 can run this boot code to execute this boot-up procedure. For example, this boot-up procedure is used to power on the electronic device 11. After the electronic device 11 is powered on, the processor 113 can run a preset operating system (OS) for the user to operate the electronic device 11.

[0015] In one embodiment, during the execution of the boot-up procedure, the processor 113 can receive a wireless signal (also referred to as a wireless authentication signal) from the communication device 12 through the wireless communication circuit 111. This wireless authentication signal can carry authentication information. For example, during the execution of the boot-up procedure, the processor 113 can first start the wireless communication circuit 111 and perform the initialization of the wireless communication circuit 111. After starting the wireless communication circuit 111 and completing the initialization of the wireless communication circuit 111, the processor 113 can receive this wireless authentication signal through the wireless communication circuit 111.

[0016] In one embodiment, the processor 113 may parse the authentication information from the wireless authentication signal. Then, the processor 113 may determine whether this authentication information passes the authentication. In response to this authentication information passing the authentication, the processor 113 may continue to execute the boot program. However, if this authentication information fails the authentication, the processor 113 may stop the boot program (i.e., interrupt the boot program) before completing the boot program. In addition, in one embodiment, during the execution of the boot program, if the wireless communication circuit 111 does not receive any wireless authentication signal carrying the authentication information, the processor 113 may also stop the boot program before completing the boot program.

[0017] In one embodiment, during the execution of the boot program, the processor 113 may continuously detect whether it has reached a verification point (also known as a checkpoint) of the boot program. In response to reaching the verification point in the boot program, the processor 113 may perform an operation of determining whether the authentication information passes the authentication. However, if the verification point has not been reached, the processor 113 may continue to execute the boot program.

[0018] In one embodiment, the boot program includes a boot program of the Universal Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), but the present invention is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the boot program may also include other types of boot programs, such as a boot program of the traditional Basic Input / Output System (BIOS), and the present invention does not impose any restrictions.

[0019] In one embodiment, taking the UEFI boot program as an example, the verification point may correspond to at least one of the Pre-EFI initialization (PEI) phase, the Driver Execution Environment (DXE) phase, and the Boot Device Selection (BDS) phase in the UEFI boot program. For example, during the execution of the UEFI boot program, when entering, executing, or ending the PEI phase, the DXE phase, or the BDS phase, the processor 113 may determine that the verification point has been reached. In one embodiment, the total number and configuration of the verification points can be adjusted according to practical requirements, and the present invention does not impose any restrictions.

[0020] Specifically, the PEI stage in the UEFI boot program is mainly used to perform the initialization of the chipset and memory inside the electronic device 11. The DXE stage in the UEFI boot program mainly completes the initialization of most of the hardware inside the electronic device 11 by running various drivers. In addition, the BDS stage in the UEFI boot program is used to perform the enumeration of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, the initialization of peripheral devices (such as monitors, mice, and keyboards), and the initialization of the operating system, etc. Those skilled in the art of this technology should be aware of the specific definitions of each stage in the UEFI boot program, and will not elaborate here. In addition, for other types of boot programs, the verification points can be configured according to one or more stages in the boot program, and the present invention does not limit this.

[0021] Please refer to Figure 2 , in an embodiment, it is assumed that at time point T(0), the processor 113 starts the UEFI boot program. In addition, it is assumed that time points T(1), T(2), and T(3) respectively correspond to the time points when entering, executing, or ending the PEI stage, DXE stage, or BDS stage in the UEFI boot program.

[0022] In an embodiment, after starting the boot program, at at least one of time points T(1), T(2), and T(3), the processor 113 can determine that it has reached a verification point and perform an operation to determine whether the verification information passes the verification. If the verification information passes the verification, the processor 113 can continue to execute the boot program. However, if the verification information fails to pass the verification, the processor 113 can directly stop the boot program. In addition, if one or more scheduled verifications have passed, at time point T(4), the processor 113 completes the boot program.

[0023] In an embodiment, the processor 113 can perform the operation of determining whether the verification information passes the verification only at one of time points T(1), T(2), and T(3). Or, in an embodiment, the processor 113 can also perform the operation of determining whether the verification information passes the verification at at least two of time points T(1), T(2), and T(3).

[0024] In one embodiment, in the operation of determining whether the verification information passes the verification, the processor 113 may decrypt (including decode) the verification information obtained from the wireless verification signal to obtain a verification code. The processor 113 may determine whether this verification code conforms to the specification. For example, after obtaining this verification code, the processor 113 may input this verification code into a preset calculation or operation model and determine whether this verification code conforms to the specification according to the output of this calculation or operation model. In response to this verification code conforming to the specification, the processor 113 may determine that the verification information passes the verification. However, if this verification code does not conform to the specification, the processor 113 may determine that the verification information fails to pass the verification.

[0025] In one embodiment, during the execution of the boot program, after determining that the verification information fails to pass the verification, the processor 113 may perform at least one retry. For example, during the at least one retry, the processor 113 may attempt to receive the wireless verification signal from the communication device 12 again through the wireless communication circuit 111 and / or re-determine whether the verification information parsed from the wireless verification signal passes the verification. If during the at least one retry, the processor 113 instead determines that the verification information passes the verification, the processor 113 may continue to execute the boot program. However, if during the at least one retry, the processor 113 still determines that the verification information fails to pass the verification, the processor 113 may stop the boot program before completing the boot program.

[0026] In one embodiment, during the execution of the boot program (for example, at the verification point), the processor 113 may also determine whether the signal strength of the wireless verification signal is higher than a critical value. For example, the signal strength of the wireless verification signal may be positively correlated with the distance between the electronic device 11 and the communication device 12. That is, if the distance between the electronic device 11 and the communication device 12 is closer, the signal strength of the wireless verification signal may be higher.

[0027] In one embodiment, in response to the signal strength of the wireless verification signal being higher than the critical value, the processor 113 may continue to execute the operation of determining whether the verification information passes the verification and decide whether to stop or continue to execute the boot program according to the judgment result. However, if the signal strength of the wireless verification signal is not higher than the critical value, the processor 113 may directly stop the boot program.

[0028] In one embodiment, if the boot program stops in response to the signal strength of the wireless authentication signal being not higher than a critical value, after the signal strength of the wireless authentication signal increases to be higher than the critical value, the processor 113 may resume executing the boot program (or perform an operation of determining whether the authentication information passes the authentication). Thus, when the user notices that the boot program stops unexpectedly due to the excessive distance between the communication device 12 and the electronic device 11, the user can move the communication device 12 closer to the electronic device 11 to trigger the electronic device 11 to continue executing the boot program.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 3 , in step S301, start the boot program of the electronic device. In step S302, during the execution of the boot program, receive a wireless authentication signal through the wireless communication circuit of the electronic device, where the wireless authentication signal carries authentication information. In step S303, determine whether the authentication information passes the authentication. In response to the authentication information passing the authentication, in step S304, continue to execute the boot program. On the other hand, if the authentication information fails to pass the authentication, in step S305, stop the boot program.

[0030] However, Figure 3 the steps in Figure 3 have been described in detail above and will not be elaborated here. It should be noted that Figure 3 the steps in

[0031] can be implemented as multiple program codes or circuits, and the present invention does not limit this. In addition,

[0032] Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A power-on control method, characterized in that, for an electronic device, wherein the electronic device has a wireless communication circuit, and the power-on control method includes: starting the power-on program of the electronic device; during the execution of the power-on program, receiving a wireless authentication signal through the wireless communication circuit, wherein the wireless authentication signal carries authentication information; judging whether the authentication information passes the authentication; in response to the authentication information passing the authentication, continuing to execute the power-on program; and in response to the authentication information not passing the authentication, stopping the power-on program.

2. The power-on control method according to claim 1, wherein the step of judging whether the authentication information passes the authentication includes: detecting whether the verification point of the power-on program is reached; in response to reaching the verification point, judging whether the authentication information passes the authentication; and in response to not reaching the verification point, continuing to execute the power-on program.

3. The power-on control method according to claim 2, wherein the power-on program includes a power-on program of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface.

4. The power-on control method according to claim 3, wherein the verification point corresponds to at least one of the pre-Extensible Firmware Interface initialization stage in the power-on program, the driver execution environment stage in the power-on program, and the power-on device selection stage in the power-on program.

5. The power-on control method according to claim 1, wherein the step of judging whether the authentication information passes the authentication includes: decrypting the authentication information to obtain a verification code; judging whether the verification code conforms to the specification; in response to the verification code conforming to the specification, determining that the authentication information passes the authentication; and in response to the verification code not conforming to the specification, determining that the authentication information does not pass the authentication.

6. The power-on control method according to claim 1, wherein the step of judging whether the authentication information passes the authentication includes: judging whether the signal strength of the wireless authentication signal is higher than a critical value; and in response to the signal strength of the wireless authentication signal not being higher than the critical value, determining that the authentication information does not pass the authentication.

7. An electronic device, characterized in that, comprising: a wireless communication circuit; and a processor connected to the wireless communication circuit, wherein the processor is configured to: start the power-on program of the electronic device; during the execution of the power-on program, receive a wireless authentication signal through the wireless communication circuit, wherein the wireless authentication signal carries authentication information; judge whether the authentication information passes the authentication; in response to the authentication information passing the authentication, continue to execute the power-on program; and in response to the authentication information not passing the authentication, stop the power-on program.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the operation of the processor to judge whether the authentication information passes the authentication includes: detecting whether the verification point of the power-on program is reached; in response to reaching the verification point, judging whether the authentication information passes the authentication; and in response to not reaching the verification point, continuing to execute the power-on program.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the startup program includes a startup program of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the verification point corresponds to at least one of a pre-extensible firmware interface initialization phase in the startup program, a driver execution environment phase in the startup program, and a startup device selection phase in the startup program.

11. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the operation of the processor to determine whether the verification information passes the verification includes: decrypting the verification information to obtain a verification code; determining whether the verification code conforms to the specification; in response to the verification code conforming to the specification, determining that the verification information passes the verification; and in response to the verification code not conforming to the specification, determining that the verification information fails the verification.

12. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the operation of the processor to determine whether the verification information passes the verification includes: determining whether the signal strength of the wireless verification signal is higher than a threshold value; and in response to the signal strength of the wireless verification signal not being higher than the threshold value, determining that the verification information fails the verification.

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